Israel uses Arab unrest as cover to attack Gaza

Tel Aviv’s atrocities should be highlighted despite shifting of focus on unrest in region.

As the world attention turned to the fast developments in some Arab countries such as Libya and Yemen, Israel yesterday continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The Israelis think, as usual, that if the Arab world is busy with another issue then they can get away with killing as many as they can from the Palestinian people. Unfortunately, this is partly true.

The Israeli aerial attacks have been going on for two days, and nobody seems to notice them. Even the Arab satellite channels don't have the time probably to carry the news as their broadcast time is totally occupied by the tragic events in Libya and the uprisings in Yemen, Bahrain and other Arab countries.

As sad as it may sound, the truth is one cannot blame the Arab media for the impunity with which Israel can launch such bloody attacks on Gaza. It is the responsibility of the main Palestinian factions, namely rivals Fatah and Hamas, to stand up to the Israeli aggression.

Since the fall of Hosni Mubarak's regime in Egypt last month, the proposed reconciliation between the two Palestinian factions has been put on the back burner. It should not have.

The Palestinian people should pressure their leaders to end the split, which not only threatens the security of the people but also the very promise of an independent state. It also threatens the sustainability of Occupied Jerusalem as the capital of the future state. The old city is being changed demographically under a policy by which Palestinians are being kicked out and replaced by Israelis.

The Arab League has a responsibility too. It is noble of the organisation to move swiftly to protect the Libyan people, who are being murdered by the forces of Muammar Gaddafi. But that doesn't mean abandoning the Palestinian people. Israel must know it cannot get away with murder too.